Mary Kay Extra Emollient Night Cream for acne-prone skin
Petrolatum
Mineral Oil
Beeswax
Candelilla Wax
Hydrogenated Soy Glyceride
Low
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- RiskySafety
A weak match for acne-prone skin; the moisturizers alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate moisturizing for your combination skin, as petrolatum and mineral oil enhance barrier resilience, but these occlusive ingredients can clog pores and potentially worsen acne and blemishes.
- The presence of beeswax and candelilla wax provides some soothing benefits, though the overall formula may be too heavy for your oily areas.
How to apply
- Use your moisturizer twice a day in your AM and PM routines. Apply it daily to help keep breakouts under control.
- Apply after your cleanser and toner, and make sure to use your SPF right after in the morning.
- Gently spread a small amount of moisturizer over your face using soft motions. Let it absorb into the skin for a minute before getting dressed or applying makeup.
- Apply on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture. This keeps your combination skin balanced without feeling heavy.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Stop using if you feel any irritation.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsThis product is highly effective for extremely dry skin and rough patches, with many users reporting transformative results on areas like elbows, heels, and lips. However, some users find its thick, petroleum-based texture to be too greasy or heavy for regular facial application.
Highlights
Heals rough patches Often Mentioned
- “Works wonders on tough, dry areas!”
- “Heels and elbows have lost that bumpy, scaly look.”
Intense hydration Often Mentioned
- “It moisturizes my skin very well.”
- “Lifesaver when your skin is desperately dry.”
- “Replenishes hydration in very dry areas.”
Greasy/sticky texture Often Mentioned
- “It felt very sticky on my hands.”
- “It is quite greasy, though not as bad as straight Vaseline.”
- “It feels too heavy and doesn't seem to absorb well.”
Long-lasting value Sometimes Noted
- “A little goes a long way.”
- “Tube has lasted over a year.”
- “Since I only use it on a selected area... it is lasting me a long time.”
Versatile usage Sometimes Noted
- “I use this around my eyes and on my lips.”
- “Excellent for dry patches, especially on hands, elbows, and feet.”
- “Can be used anytime your skin needs extra moisture.”
Not for oily Sometimes Noted
- “Definitely not suitable for those with oily skin.”
- “May be too heavy for oily skin types.”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “The scent is a bit strong; I wish it had a milder fragrance.”
- “It has a very strong scent that many find unpleasant.”
- “Smells chemically scented.”
Potential staining Rarely Noted
- “Be careful if you sleep on your stomach, as it might stain your pillow.”
- “Hair ends up sticking to your face.”
Sources: lovi.care, marykay.com, influenster.com, shespeaks.com, womensblogtalk.com, vanityroutine.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is Mary Kay Extra Emollient Night Cream a weak match for acne-prone skin?
Mary Kay Extra Emollient Night Cream is a weak match for acne-prone skin because heavy ingredients like petrolatum and mineral oil can clog pores and potentially worsen blemishes. A moisturizer for this skin needs light, hydrating ingredients and soothing extracts that provide moisture without blocking pores or causing breakouts.
Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for acne-prone skin?
Petrolatum, mineral oil, and waxes make this cream a weak match because they can clog pores and potentially worsen acne. Acne-prone skin needs a moisturizer with ingredients that hydrate without clogging pores, soothe breakouts, and avoid heavy occlusives.
What does Petrolatum do for acne-prone skin?
Petrolatum is unlikely to clog pores for most people, making it safe to use on acne-prone skin while helping to keep the skin barrier strong and protected. This ingredient exhibits low comedogenicity and an excellent safety profile for supporting skin health.
What does Mineral Oil do for acne-prone skin?
Mineral oil is generally considered safe and is unlikely to clog pores for acne-prone skin, but an average or weak fit means this skin type needs lightweight, non-greasy hydrators like glycerin or hyaluronic acid to keep skin smooth and clear without heavy layers.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2012Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2024
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This heavy cream is a weak match for acne-prone skin because heavy ingredients like petrolatum and mineral oil can clog pores and potentially worsen blemishes. A product of this type needs lightweight, breathable ingredients that hydrate the skin without trapping oil.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
Using this heavy cream with retinol is likely to clog pores and worsen blemishes on acne-prone skin because petrolatum and mineral oil trap oils and create a very heavy barrier. Acne-prone skin needs lightweight, non-clogging moisturizers with ceramides and hyaluronic acid to keep skin smooth without blocking pores.
How often should I use this cream?
This cream is a weak match for your acne-prone skin because heavy ingredients like petrolatum and mineral oil can clog pores and potentially worsen breakouts. To care for this skin type, a moisturizer needs lighter, non-clogging hydrating ingredients that keep skin soft and calm without heavy waxes.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
Yes, this cream is a weak match for acne-prone skin because heavy ingredients like petrolatum and mineral oil can easily clog pores and worsen breakouts. A moisturizer for this skin needs lighter, breathable hydrators that keep skin soft without trapping oil.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This heavy cream is generally too thick for the delicate skin around the eyes, but it works well on the body to soften dry areas. Because the skin on the body is much thicker than the skin on the face or eyelids, it tolerates heavy protective waxes and oils much better without feeling weighed down.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Topical treatment with skin-identical lipids in a petrolatum-rich cream base showed no superiority over pure petrolatum in promoting normalization of barrier recovery and inflammation in detergent- and tape-stripped-perturbed human skin over 14 days.
Acta Dermato-venereologica, 2000Topically applied extra virgin olive oil and petrolatum both significantly improved skin barrier function and microtopographic features in 54 healthy adult volunteers, with petrolatum exerting stronger occlusive effects and extra virgin olive oil uniquely promoting epidermal renewal.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2025Repeated application of concentrated water-in-oil emulsions over four weeks caused no skin irritation, positively affected skin properties, and delivered almost 50% of the applied fluorescein sodium, with isopropyl myristate showing superior penetration performance compared to liquid paraffin in healthy volunteers.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2019Topical application of a honey, olive oil, and beeswax mixture three times daily for up to 4 weeks resulted in clinical responses in 86% of patients with pityriasis versicolor, 78% with tinea cruris, and 75% with tinea corporis.
Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2004A prototype body cream containing bee venom, propolis, honey, beeswax, and royal jelly demonstrated stability for 90 days, high antioxidant capacity of 85.45%, lack of cytotoxicity with over 70% cell viability, and no irritation or allergic reaction in dermatological analysis, while improving skin parameters in a panel test.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022MUD1 protected human dermal fibroblasts against AAPH-induced oxidative stress by increasing cell viability, reducing oxidative damage, improving mitochondrial functionality, and enhancing wound healing capacities.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2018
Ingredients
Petrolatum, Mineral Oil, Paraffin, Beeswax, Candelilla Wax, Hydrogenated Soy Glyceride, Carnauba Wax, Stearic Acid, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Menthol, Red 17
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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